Diablo II adds first new class in 24 years with Warlock DLC

Diablo II gets its first new class in 24 years

Blizzard has released the first new playable class for Diablo II in the game's 24-year history. The Warlock is available now as part of the "Reign of the Warlock" DLC for Diablo II: Resurrected.

This marks a significant shift for a game whose core mechanics have remained largely unchanged for decades. For a dedicated player base, it's the biggest shake-up since the game's original release.

The Warlock's three distinct skill branches

The new class offers three primary upgrade paths, each defining a different playstyle. Your build depends heavily on which branch you invest skill points into.

• Eldritch: Focuses on weapon enhancement and unique physical attacks.
• Demon: Centers on summoning demonic allies to fight alongside you.
• Chaos: Provides area-of-effect (AoE) spells for crowd control.

In practice, these branches allow the Warlock to feel like a hybrid of existing classes, blending elements of the Sorceress, Amazon, and Necromancer.

Why the Eldritch branch feels so good

The Eldritch skill tree introduces mechanics that elegantly solve old inventory problems. The standout skill is Eldritch Armory, which lets you levitate a two-handed weapon in front of your character while still holding a shield.

This eliminates the classic trade-off between high damage and strong defense. You no longer need to juggle weapons in your inventory mid-fight, a quality-of-life improvement with major combat implications.

Another key skill is Echoing Strike, unlocked at Level 14. It converts melee weapons into ranged attacks by spending mana to throw a ghostly weapon copy. This adds crucial versatility, letting a strength-based character effectively attack from a distance.

The Demon branch feels less inspired

The Demon summoning path is the Warlock's most familiar and, in early play, least exciting option. The core loop of summoning an ally to tank enemy attention will feel immediately familiar to Necromancer players.

Early on, you can only summon one powerful demon at a time. Summoning multiple demons requires a full 10-point investment in the skill tree. This makes building a demon army a late-game goal, unlike the Necromancer's early skeleton hordes.

Of the three demon types, the Tainted demon is the most reliably useful. It hangs back and attacks from range with fireballs, avoiding the melee fray where the other demon types often get overwhelmed.

Chaos magic offers essential crowd control

The Chaos branch provides the Warlock's main spellcasting toolkit, specializing in area-of-effect damage and control. Flame Wave is exceptionally effective for clearing narrow dungeon corridors packed with enemies.

For managing swarms, the Sigil of Lethargy is invaluable. It slows down frenetic enemy groups, giving you crucial time to position yourself or line up a powerful attack.

Combining these Chaos spells with the weapon skills from the Eldritch branch creates a potent "best of both worlds" build. This hybrid approach offers a satisfying mix of direct damage, ranged options, and crowd control.

A fresh reason to return to Sanctuary

The Warlock class succeeds as a compelling new way to experience the classic game. It provides enough novel twists on Diablo II's foundational gameplay to make a fresh playthrough engaging.

It remains to be seen how the class performs in the hardest late-game Terror Zones, or within the truly optimized builds the community will inevitably discover. But as a vehicle for casual replay, the Warlock is a welcome and long-overdue addition.

For the first time in over two decades, Diablo II veterans have a genuinely new way to fight the forces of Hell.